Labbe EDOUDARD FONTAINE

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Labbe EDOUDARD FONTAINE 1916 - 2002 Le mardi 2 avril 2002, a lHopital general de New Iberia, en Louisiane aux Etats-Unis, labbe Edouard Fontaine trepassa a lage de 86 ans. Il laisse dans le deuil deux soeurs, Marie-Claire Sabourin de Saint-Boniface et Dolores Holt de Creston en Colombie-Britannique, un frere, Daniel de Winnipeg, deux belles-soeurs, Clotilde Fontaine (Rosaire) de St. Vital et Clemence Fontaine (Edmond) de St-Boniface, trois beaux-freres, Arthur Dupuis (Yvonne) de Ste-Anne, Eric Wilton (Jeanne) de Courtenay en Colombie-Britannique et Moe Holt (Dolores) en C-B, ainsi que de nombreux neveux et nieces, des confreres pretres et nombre damis au Canada et aux Etats-Unis. Labbe Edouard fut precede dans lau-dela par son pere Philias, sa mere Delia, ses soeurs Therese, Yvonne et Jeanne, ses freres Rosaire, Emile, et Edmond ainsi que sa belle-soeur Mary (Emile) et son beau-frere Cyril Sabourin. Edouard Fontaine est ne a St-Boniface le 29 mars 1916. Il fit ses etudes primaires a lecole Provencher (1922-1930), ses etudes secondaires et universitaires au College de Saint-Boniface (1930-1938). Il etudia la theologie au Grand Seminaire de Montreal (1939-1943) et fut ordonne pretre en la Cathedrale de Saint-Boniface le 6 juin 1943. Labbe Fontaine fut vicaire dans les paroisses Holy Cross (1943), St-Jean-Baptiste (1944) et Bruxelles (1946). Il fut ensuite cure a Ste-Genevieve (1947-1950), a Richer (1950-1956), a Ste-Elisabeth/Morris (1956-1957), a Mariapolis (1957-1960), a Letellier (1960-1964) et enfin a Lorette (1964-1965). En 1965, il quitta le Manitoba pour des raisons de sante et alla oeuvrer dans le Diocese de Victoria en Colombie-Britannique ou il fut recteur a Port Alice jusquen 1969. Cest alors quil partit pour la Louisiane ou il fut successivement remplacant a Lafayette (1969-1970), vicaire a Church Point (1971-1974) et administrateur dans la Paroisse de Duralde, a Eunice (1974-1986). Apres avoir pris sa retraite en 1986, il continua a rendre service dans la region en autant que sa sante lui permit. En depit de la maladie, son amour dautrui, son entregent et son bon sens dhumour en ont fait un homme qui fit rayonner la bonne humeur autour de lui jusqua la fin de sa vie. Labbe Edouard avait une grande devotion au Sacre-Coeur; aussi en 1983, avec laide de ses paroissiens et de bien dautres personnes genereuses, il fit construire un oratoire dedie au Sacre-Coeur de Jesus dans la paroisse de Duralde. Il fut inaugure officiellement le 21 juin 1983, jour du 40e anniversaire de pretrise de labbe. Cet oratoire est devenu, depuis, un lieu important de recueillement et de priere. Des prieres auront lieu au salon funeraire Quirk & Son a Eunice, LA, a 10 heures, dimanche matin, le 7 avril 2002. Le rosaire sera recite a 19h00 au meme endroit. Il y aura des prieres au corps en leglise St. Anthony of Padua, a Eunice, des 8 heaurs du matin le lundi 8 avril; la Messe de la Resurrection sera celebree a 11 heures. Nous invitons les gens a offrir un don pour lentretien de lOratoire du Sacre-Coeur de Duralde, plutot que denvoyer des fleurs. Vous pouvez faire parvenir vos offrandes a: Deacon Theo Landry, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mother Church, 447 Duralde Hwy., Eunice, LA, USA 70535. La direction des funerailles a ete confiee au salon mortuaire Quirk & Son Funeral Home, 121 S. 6th St., Eunice, LA. 1-337-546-6081. REVEREND FATHER EDOUARD FONTAINE 1916 - 2002 On Tuesday, April 2, 2002, at the age of 86, Father Fontaine passed away at the New Iberia General Hospital in New Iberia, LA, USA. He leaves to mourn his passing his sisters, Marie-Claire Sabourin of St. Boniface and Dolores Holt of Creston, BC; his brother Daniel in Winnipeg; two sisters-in-law, Clotilde Fontaine (Rosaire) of St. Vital and Clemence Fontaine (Edmond) of St. Boniface; three brothers-in-law, Arthur Dupuis (Yvonne) of St. Anne, Eric Wilton (Jeanne) of Courtenay, BC, and Moe Holt (Dolores) as well as many nieces and nephews; his colleagues of the priesthood; and numerous friends in Canada and the United States. Father Edouard was predeceased by his father Philias, his mother Delia; his sisters, Therese, Yvonne and Jeanne; his brothers, Rosaire, Emile and Edmond; as well as his sister-in-law Mary (Emile) and his brother-in-law Cyrille Sabourin. Born in St. Boniface March 29, 1916, Edouard Fontaine attended Provencher School (1922-1930) and completed his secondary and post-secondary studies at Saint Boniface College (1930-1938). He then studied theology at Montreal Major Seminary (1939-1943) and was ordained to the priesthood on June 21, 1943. Father Fontaine was assistant Pastor at Holy Cross (1943), St. Jean-Baptiste (1944) and Bruxelles, MB (1946). He was then Pastor at St. Genevieve (1947-1950), at Richer (1950-1956), at St. Elisabeth/Morris (1956-1957), at Mariapolis (1957-1960), at Letellier (1960-1964) and finally at Lorette (1964-1965). In 1965, he left Manitoba for health reasons and went to minister in the Diocese of Victoria, BC; he was rector in Port Alice until 1969. He then left for Louisiana where he was assistant Pastor in Lafayette (1969-1970) and in Church Point (1971-1974) and finally Pastor/Administrator in the Parish of Duralde in Eunice until his retirement in 1986. during his retirement, he continued to serve the people of the area inasmuch as his health permitted it. In despite of ill-health, his love for others, his people skills and especially his good sense of humour made of him a man who filled the world around him with joy and laughter. Father Ed had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart. In 1983, with the help of his parishioners and the generous support of countless friends and relatives, he had a shrine to the Sacred Heart built in the Parish of Duralde. The Shrine was officially inaugurated and blessed on June 21, 1983, the day Father Ed celebrated his 40th anniversary of priesthood. This Shrine has since become a special place of worship and prayer for many in the region. Prayers and visitation will be held at Quirk & Son Funeral Home in Eunice, LA at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, April 7. Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m., also at the funeral home. On Monday, April 8, there will be prayers and viewing at 8:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Eunice; the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, people are invited to make a donation towards the upkeep of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Duralde. Offerings may be sent to: Deacon Theo Landry, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mother Church, 447 Duralde Hwy., Eunice, LA, USA 70535. Arrangements entrusted to: QUIRK & SON FUNERAL HOME 121 S. 6th Street, Eunice, LA, USA 1-337-546-6081

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 31, 1969